“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Sunday, June 6, 2010

If I were a Nutmegger

I wouldn't mind being from the third smallest state, because Connecticut is the most manicured and green state in the US.

I would live in a turn of the century white clapboard house...turn of 1800 or maybe even 1700.... on a village green, a manicured grassy parkland with a gazebo or a monument. I would share my green with the ghost of Harriet Beecher Stowe or Mark Twain or Marian Anderson or Eugene O'Neill. And I would belong to St. James Episocopal Church....every town has one.

I'd live in a town with an English name, like York or Kent or Cornwall or New London on the Thames River. Maybe I would cross a covered bridge into the town. I would buy fresh strawberries in June and later in the summer, corn on the cob at the Farmer's Markets. I would stop at Tag sales. I would hang out the bunting on Memorial Day and not bring it in till time for pumpkins.

I'd have a landscape rock sticking out of my lawn because it would be too massive to move. With all the other rocks I would build low walls of set stone, no mortar. In the summer I would manicure the lawn around the rock, and in the fall, I wouldn't mind raking leaves, because they are so splendid on the maples and elms in the fall. In the winter, I'd snowplow with my 4x4 vehicle.

I would drive the coast of Long Island Sound or up the Connecticut River for peekaboo views of sailboats and harbors.

Hike, Bike, Soak, Repeat ~ My training plan for the summer of 2012

July 24 Sunray Texas walk with with Cox family and Daisy. They have a nice park on their street, just down from Happy State Bank.

July 23 Hiking on Sandia Peak with John and Deb and Carl and the dogs. It hailed on us! And Daisy walked off leash. What a day! Nobody knows how far we went, but we actually got cold.

July 21 Hiking on Sante Fe Ski Mountain with friends Eileen and Richard. New ap on his phone said we hiked 1.7 miles, one hour and 20 minutes, 55 minutes moving, average moving speed of 1.8 mph and elevation gain of 500 feet. That's a lot of data at 10,000 feet.

July 20 Ojo Caliente, the premium hot springs of the world. I am positive all the minerals do exactly what Ojo says they will.

July 19 Morning HIke up Reservoir Hill with Daisy. From 7000 feet to 7600 in a mile and a half, and then back. Followed by a soak in Healing Waters.

July 18. This soaking could be habit forming. Pasoga Springs, the Healing Waters funky bathhouse from the 50's, I love it.

July 18. 17,212 steps today. My personal record, I think. And Daisy walked almost all of them with me. We walked up the canyon to Cascade Falls in Ouray, and then around the town of Pagosa Springs. She is tired.

July 17 Ouray Hot springs pool A piece of paradise in the Ouray amphitheatre. Little switzerland. Then a massage right there at the pool and she did the whole thing with her feet, I never knew. Fabulous!

July 17 Hiked Moras Pass on the Colorado Trail. I hiked 5 miles by steps, probably half that in distance. Went from 10,400 down to 10,200, up to 10,600, and back. Felt great.

July 15 Orvis Hot Springs, Ridgeway a 10!!!! clothing optional, but no old men talking to me. Pristine, landscaped, hot hot hot and scenic. A break from the persistant rain that insists on dampening hikes, bikes and sightseeing. Then came the rain again.

July 14 Little Daisy walk between the rains in Lake City, on a path headed towards Engineers Pass. Canyon walls and babbling creek.

July 13 Joyful Journey Hot springs near Moffat is a piece of HEAVEN. Clean, deep pools, shaded, views of the San Luis Valley, and perfect water temps. Ahhhh!

July 13 My fastest ride to date. 15 miles in 75 minutes outside of Great Sand Dunes National Monument. 7500 feet.

July 11 Villa Grove Hotsprings. 7 miles of washboard meant this place needed to be really worth it. Fine if you like the outdoorsy hippie place where you can converse with wrinkled old men au natural while you soak. Main complaint was the water was not hot enough.

July 11 3.5 miles in the Florrisant National Monument. Looked like The Ponderosa. Kept expecting Hoss or Little Joe to round the corner. Hike would have been better on a horse. 8500 feet elevation.

July 10 8.5 miles in colorado Springs on the bike, and 4 miles hiking in Garden of the Gods. Very tired tonight but happy.

July 10. Big gap in my training due to RAIN. Had a hike planned one morning but the park would not let Daisy come in, not even to stay in the RV. Mostly it rained every day and threatened when it was not actively raining.

July 7 Oh yes YOGA!! My first class since leaving home and so awesome I bought Carl a Yoga Massage from the instructor. She's going to turn him into a pretzel. Followed Yoga with hot tub and a trip down the super water slide. Sweet way to start a day.

July 6. Golden beats me again. 4 miles on their golden hills. Maybe I could do it, but I have no real burning desire to ride up hills. Time to take the afternoon off and get an Asian foot massage. Amen!

July 5 Indian Peaks Wilderness Hike starting at 10,500 to L. Isabella, 10.868 feet. Lost track of my steps with pedometer failing at 3.3 miles. Probably twice that number of miles. Glorious wildflowers! Lakes! snow! Waterfalls! Sweet reward in the hot tub of the Golden Community Center at the end of the day.

July 4 18.6 miles on the Fort Collins bike paths. Fabulous paths, even though I did get lost. Mini summer workout. Arms only. I think my legs are getting enough working out.

July 2. Fort Collins bike paths even better! Poudre River Path just awesome. 13.8 miles at a fast clip = FUN.

July 1 This is more like it! 5000 feet elevation in Loveland and a bike path that was pretty level equals 15 miles of biking. Now I can make it to the first rest stop of the MS 150!

June 30 Suckered in by a hikers only path in Rocky Mountain NP. It took me 6 miles of steps to cover 4 miles of rocky downhill, Lesson learned: if it's not good enough for a horse, it's not good enough for me. Bless my poor feet!

June 29 Suckered in by another family multi use path in Estes Park. Took over an hour to ride 8 miles. Probably because for 15 minutes or more I was walking uphill. Hot tub felt great at the end of the day.

June 24, bragging rights to the highest paved bike trail in the US, 11.6 miles on the Mineral Trail, Leadville. Started at 9600, peaked at 10.600, I admit I walked some of the elevation, but it counts. Very pumped. Growing lungs! Rewarded with hot tub at Tiger Run Resort in Breckenridge and a relaxing swim.

June 23. 6 miles on the bike near Buena Vista, but wait, don't scoff! The elevation was 8400.

June 22 Lazy day in Cottonwood Hot Springs. Pools ranging in temps from 98 to 106, zowie! A little piece of heaven under clear blue skies and canyon walls

June 20 Black Canyon of the Gunnison, elevation ranging from 7900 to 8600 feet. 3.5 miles, 8000 steps on the paths to peer into this amazing wonder of nature,

June 19 Glenwood Springs Co elevation 5,791 feet 8.66 mile ride along the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon. Second time for this amazing path.

June 18 4.4 miles 10,287 steps, today, Most of them at Maroon Bells, Aspen, up to 9600 feet, and Independence Pass, 12,000 feet. Getting lungs! First time I took out the boots!

June 17 Yampah Vapor Caves, Glenwood Springs A truly steamy experience taken 15 minutes at a time. Don't mind the slight sulphur smell at all. Like the solarium to rest and cool in between steams.

June 17 Glenwood Springs Co elevation 5,791 feet 9.26 mile ride on a paved path along the Colorado River into Glenwood Canyon. Drop dead scenery. Out and back smooth and easy, except for the climb up No Name Hill at the end.

June 15 summer workout second time at 6,000 feet, Golden, Co, a little better

June 15 City Park, Denver This is their largest city park, where the Zoo and Natural History Museum are located. I looked for the mile high 5 k path, where you walk 5 k at 5,200 feet. Didn't find it but I walked around the lake with myriads of Canadian geese and rookeries for cormorants and herons on separate islands. The birds seem to have segregated on their own, as there are no signs saying Cormarants only, or Herons need not apply. The classic post card view of downtown with the lake in the foreground and mountains behind is taken on this path. 11,700 step day, 4.98 miles I'm warming up on walking at mile high, hoping that I will be able to tackle a trail with my hiking boots on before the end of the summer.

June 14 Idaho Springs Co A truly funky cave experience HOt hot HOt in the caves Non coed, clothes optional The coolest soak is 104 Gets hotter if you can take it

June 14 Denver CO Elevation 5,167 feet Cherry Creek bike path 9.47 miles From Four Mile History Park south a pleasant mostly flat paved meander I want to do this one again and again

June 13 Denver Botanic Gardens I walked 13,000 steps today 5.6 miles, most of them in the gardens. This is an amazing must see for anyone who loves gardens. See my photo albums for more pictures than you can stand.

June 12 Dakota Ridge RV Park Golden Co Nice and hot in their tub Felt great after the killer bike ride

June 11 summer workout at 6,000 feet, golden, Co yikes!

June 12 Golden Colorado elevation 6,000 ish ride length 5.18 miles. What were we thinking? First morning in Mile High City and we take off on a hilly ride. Either coasting down the hills or walking up them. Almost died

June 8 Lake Hefner Oklahoma City elevation 1,199 feet ride length 10.07 Mostly paved bike path around the lake, except for a section on the dam road Since traffic is one way and very light, road section was easy

June 7 summer band workout in OK City, 2,000 feet. Hot little workout room, but the guys didn't seem to care about the heat

June 29 Suckered in by another family multi use path in Estes Park. Took over an hour to ride 8 miles. Probably because for 15 minutes or more I was walking uphill. Hot tub felt great at the end of the day.

June 29 Suckered in by another family multi use path in Estes Park. Took over an hour to ride 8 miles. Probably because for 15 minutes or more I was walking uphill. Hot tub felt great at the end of the day.

July 2. Fort Collins bike paths even better! Poudre River Path just awesome. 13.8 miles at a fast clip = FUN.

July 1 This is more like it! 5000 feet elevation in Loveland and a bike path that was pretty level equals 15 miles of biking. Now I can make it to the first rest stop of the MS 150!

June 30 Suckered in by a hikers only path in Rocky Mountain NP. It took me 6 miles of steps to cover 4 miles of rocky downhill, Lesson learned: if it's not good enough for a horse, it's not good enough for me. Bless my poor feet!

July 7 Oh yes YOGA!! My first class since leaving home and so awesome I bought Carl a Yoga Massage from the instructor. She's going to turn him into a pretzel. Followed Yoga with hot tub and a trip down the super water slide. Sweet way to start a day.

July 6. Golden beats me again. 4 miles on their golden hills. Maybe I could do it, but I have no real burning desire to ride up hills. Time to take the afternoon off and get an Asian foot massage. Amen!

July 7 Oh yes YOGA!! My first class since leaving home and so awesome I bought Carl a Yoga Massage from the instructor. She's going to turn him into a pretzel. Followed Yoga with hot tub and a trip down the super water slide. Sweet way to start a day.

July 6. Golden beats me again. 4 miles on their golden hills. Maybe I could do it, but I have no real burning desire to ride up hills. Time to take the afternoon off and get an Asian foot massage. Amen!

July 7 Oh yes YOGA!! My first class since leaving home and so awesome I bought Carl a Yoga Massage from the instructor. She's going to turn him into a pretzel. Followed Yoga with hot tub and a trip down the super water slide. Sweet way to start a day.

July 6. Golden beats me again. 4 miles on their golden hills. Maybe I could do it, but I have no real burning desire to ride up hills. Time to take the afternoon off and get an Asian foot massage. Amen!

July 7 Oh yes YOGA!! My first class since leaving home and so awesome I bought Carl a Yoga Massage from the instructor. She's going to turn him into a pretzel. Followed Yoga with hot tub and a trip down the super water slide. Sweet way to start a day.

July 6. Golden beats me again. 4 miles on their golden hills. Maybe I could do it, but I have no real burning desire to ride up hills. Time to take the afternoon off and get an Asian foot massage. Amen!

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Passing the time with books

2012

Last summer we finished the trip with John Grisham's The Confession. A man walks into a Lutheran Minister's office in Topeka Kansas to say that the state of Texas is about to execute the wrong man for a murder he himself committed. A really good read that makes me want to abolish the death penalty. Listen folks, we in the system of justice are sometimes WRONG! Anyway, we finally finished it, then ripped through Clive Cussler's Sacred Stone (same hero Juan Cabrerro, same plot structure spanning history) and are now starting Be Cool by Elmore Leonard. I'm neutral on this one, but mostly I don't identify with the Hollywood setting.

I thought Sacred Stone was weak. The ghost writer for Cussler (he doesn't do his own stuff anymore) didn't play up Juan's amputated leg on a super hero like the ghost writer in the next one we read. And the use of passive tense drove me nuts!!

Next Cussler novel, The Jungle, had all the super hero elements in glorified form. Much better!

Now we are starting Cussler's The RAce. Going to have a new hero at turn of the 20th century.

2011

Took the spring off to read Texas history books from the Republic of Texas days while researching a family story of kidnapped children. I read the most amazing book . Summer Moon by SC Gwinne. Non-sentimental history and riveting. Could not put it down. Nothing else I read can compare to his account of the history of Texas and the Rangers and the Comanche during that time. Bloody bloody segment of history.

This summer the reading has been a little lighter. Tin Roof Blowdown, another Dave Robichaux series from James Burke, with a delightful descriptive turn of phrase that is his trademark. The Help, which brings back my southern roots as I am amazed to remember how I used to think about blacks and whites. Children of Jihad, the account of a young Jew from New York who goes to live in Lebanon and Iran with the intent of understanding how young people think. It's interesting for about the first half.

Just finished two more Newbery award winners. Kira Kira looks at the life of Japanese immigrants after WWII, a slice of life I never considered. Very thoughtful. And Lizzie Bright and the Buckminister Boy is a masterpiece. Brings in turn of the century prejudice in a coastal town in Maine.

A year after reading the Investor's Manifesto, I am finally doing what he says to do. No more thinking I am smarter than the market.

More Grisham, more Cussler, more Newbery winners. In the last category, read Crispin the Cross of Lead, by Avi. Nicely done tale from 14th century England with good research into the life of serfs and limited world view of a boy who only knows one village. Favorite Cussler lately was Sahara, where I learned that Lincoln was not assasinated, but instead kidnapped by the Confederates on Old Ironsides, which sailed into Africa on a river that ran dry and stranded him in the Sahara, where he died. Associate by Grisham was standard Grisham fare. Read a couple by the Bourne Identity author, but not impressed so far. See, can't even remember his name.

Just finished "The King of Torts" another Grisham lawyer novel. After reading this one, I have decided against responding to the class action settlement waiting for me at home from United Health Care. Such an abuse of private citizens for the betterment of tort attornies! I've also decided never to take prescription drugs unless they have reached the generic stage, when side effects have had more time to surface. I'm not sure whether to dislike mass tort firms or pharmaceuticals more. But once again, Grisham let me down by tying up the ending with a bow. He frequently seems to run out of steam at the end.

However, Grisham did not run out of steam in The Testament. At first a story of an unlikable lot of spoiled rich heirs, the tale moves into a tale of redemption. In the end I found it believable.

More Newbery winners: non fiction Hitler Youth is a chilling account of Hitler's brainwashing of the German youth. Then there's Al Capone Does My Shirts, fictionalized account of a family living on Alcatraz where the father was a guard in the 1930's.

More and better Newbery award winners: Tale of Despereaux luv it luv it luv it, so lyrical a fairy tale about a mouse, a princess, some soup....well, you need to read it. Rules: story of a 12 year old with an autistic brother so well structured I just wanted to crawl into its framework and stay there forever. Penny from Heaven: okay. Savvy:fun. The author has more metaphors than I have ever read between the covers of a book in my life. Fun to think about magic powers.

The Investors Manifesto, William Bernstein, was my fall money read. And he hits it on the head. Nuff said.

Still into those Newbery Award Winners. Tale of Desperaux is such a delight! Love that mouse. And Hattie Big Sky, what a girl she was as a homesteader in Montana. My favorite overall author lately is Richard Peck with his Long Way from Chicago and companion pieces. I LOVE grandma. Then I went the Corretta Scott King directions, with After D and Tupac, and Feather, which I loved, and I am in the middle of Elijah of Buxton, about the first black child born into freedom in Canada.

2009

A Thousand Splendid Suns. This was a hard read, but oh the mastery of the story telling. In the end, I remember none of the cruelty endured by the two Afghan women, but all of the lyrical mastery of the telling of the tale.

I have delved into the world of children's books. Favorite picture books are "A House is a House for Me", "Zin Zin a Violin" "Where is my duckling?". In the slightly older reader category, the classic "Charlotte's Web" followed by a recent, "The Higher Power of Lucky". I'm going for all the Newbery award winners in the history of the award. Then all the Caldecott's (those being a little quicker to read). Fun!!!

Jeremy Siegels newest investment book on Stocks. He accumulates lots of data and then comes out with some very meaningful conclusions. Nice that it affirmed what I have already come to believe from reading Benjamin Graham and a few others like him. ****

Patricia Cromwell - Fifth, Front, something like that. I don't remember the title really, because it wasn't that memorable. *

John Grisham...Runaway Jury.. Great read! Take that, evil scheming tobacco company attorney. Hoist with your own petard! *****

John Grisham..A time to Kill, his first novel, a great read until the last chapter, when he seemed to just want to wrap things up in a hurry in ways I found hard to believe.

John Grisham ....again.....I really like him.....The Last Juror. Oh, be still my heart. I LOVED this one. I loved the small town, same one, Clanton Mississippi, with the same drinking attorney, and the addition of young journalist who buys the newspaper. I wanted to buy the newspaper and write and write and write. And I wanted the know the last juror, Miss Callie. What a lady.

Spring 2009 I got halfway through Obama's Odacity of Hope. I read several books on finance, and these are my top three: Grahams The Intelligent Investor, Sheimo's stock market rules, Bogle's Little Book of Common Sense Investing.

While trying to decide how to write a book about Rosabella's adventures I read all of Ruth Heller's children's books. How marvelous they are! Such color! such art! I need to take art lessons.....

I read Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner. Very interesting book that asks questions such as "why do crack dealers still live with their mothers?

I skimmed about 15 books on watercolors trying to grasp the medium. Still waiting there.

And while in Florence I read aloud to my friends almost all of Rick Steve's Florence. Love that guy.

Charlie Wilsons War * Interesting information, but 17 disks long, about 10 too many. The author's third person narrative style makes me wander off. A little dialogue, please! But Carl likes it a lot more than I do.

Black Wind ** another Clive Cussler novel, with history, research heros of the ocean and action drama. This time the younger Dirk Pitt does most of the heroics. Dad Dirk comes in to save the day at the last minute. Maybe twin sister Summer will be the heroine of the next in the series. She deferred to her brother in this one just when the action got really hot.

Brotherhood of the Shroud * A takeoff on Da Vinci Code, down to the Italian heroine named Sophia, but with big lags in the plot to discover who is trying to steal the holy shroud from the Cathedral in Turin.

The Chase * A Clive Cussler novel without the hero oceanographers. The chase is a cross country hunt for a bank robber/murderer set in the early 1900's. No cell phones, slow cars, trains, and cut telegraph lines. Less of the history than Cussler is known for, and fewer levels of plot.

Crusader's Cross, James Lee Burke. * * My first one of this series recommended by a friend, and I think I want more. Dave Robicheaux is a cop investigating murders in New Iberia, Lafayette, Beaumont and Galveston. I like the characters and the color.

Eight Million Ways to Die ** Lawrence Block. I have listened to this one before, but I did not mind the repeat. It's a gumshoe novel, a former cop turned PI, down on his luck and drinking, solving a murder of a prostitute for his client, her pimp. It's the 70's, or maybe the 80's, and phone calls are a dime, answering services are required communication tools. I like a classic gumshoe, and this is one of them.

Playing for Pizza, John Grisham *** Not your usual Grisham, this one is about a 28 year old washed up quarterback who ends up playing in the Italian football league. It's a fun read even for those not into football, with the game reduced to its essence with players who play just for the love of the game and free pizza and beer.

Skeleton Coast. *** It's another Clive Cussler historical ecological novel about blood diamonds, African revolutionaries, sunken treasure ships, and ecological terrorists. The hero has a prosthetic leg, a nice twist, and an ethnic name, Juan Caballero. He rescues the rightful all day long. The herione is a securities specialist for DeBeers. Altogether a nice mix. The NUMA heroes make a brief appearance.

Ghost Soldiers *** I did not record the author, sorry. This is a historical account of the death march in the Philipines during WWII, the stories of the men who survived POW camp there, and the rangers who busted them out several years later. Inspirational true stuff, well told.

James Herriott's Dog Stories *** based on true stories of an English vet, also the subject of a BBC series. A wonderful account of a country vet, the dogs he treats, and their relationship with their owners. For every dog lover in the world, and also for those who will be dog lovers when they read this.

The Appeal, Grisham, ** If you want to stop believing in the justice system, this is the one for you. Calls for reform of the system in the most emphatic way. A judge's election can be bought in many states.

This fall, 2008, back home, I have been reading for my class on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Karl Sabbagh represents the viewpoint of the native Arabs who lost their homes, particularly well done in Beirut to Jerusalem. Jimmy Carter has his opinions about Israel blocking peace in Peace Not Aparteid, and Amoz Oz, A Tale of Love and Darkness, is a good representation of the Israeli moderate viewpoint. So much to think about.

I also am finishing up last spring's reading, Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Ralin. Mortenson, a mountaineer who almost died in an attempt on K2, was rescued by a village in Pakistan's rugged north mountains. He returned to build a school there, and went on to build 55 more. It's a one man peace keeping mission, peace through humanitarianism and education.

Turning my Pages

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

This quote from St. Augustine became a favorite of mine in 2000 while planning a trip to Our Chalet with my Girl Scout Troop. Each page was an adventure, like reading a good book for the first time. I saw the world from eager eyes. It was sheer joy.

That joy of travel has been a gift in my life. "She never wasted a day of vacation" could easily be carved on my headstone. I frequently journal on trips, and I cherish the insights I have experienced along the way.

In this blog, I'll be crossing the States and into Canada and Alaska in the 23 foot RV I bought on whim one day last year, a month before I retired.

Her name is Teragram. That's my name spelled backwards. It's a name synonymous with travel for me, ever since I happened upon it on an old sailboat in Maui.

Along the way, I'll share with you the seredipitous moments that every traveler treasures, the moments that are the texture of your memory of that place from that time forward.

Welcome to the world from my eyes, and maybe sometimes from the eyes of Daisy, my dog.